View source for Roberto Carlos

{{Short description|Brazilian footballer (born 1973)}}
{{other people}}
{{Portuguese name|da Silva|Rocha}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| image = LS3 1288 (53332367864) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Carlos in 2023
| full_name = Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha<ref name="wf">{{Worldfootball.net|roberto-carlos|new_id=pe4155}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1973|04|10}}
| birth_place = [[Garça]], [[São Paulo]], Brazil
| height = 1.68 m<ref name="wf"/>
| position = [[Left-back]]
| currentclub = 
| youthyears1 = 1988–1991
| youthclubs1 = [[União São João Esporte Clube|União São João]]
| years1 = 1991–1995
| clubs1 = [[União São João Esporte Clube|União São João]]
| caps1 = 21
| goals1 = 3
| years2 = 1992–1993
| clubs2 = → [[Clube Atlético Mineiro|Atlético Mineiro]] (loan)
| caps2 = 0
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 1993–1995
| clubs3 = [[Palmeiras]]
| caps3 = 44
| goals3 = 3
| years4 = 1995–1996
| clubs4 = [[Inter Milan]]
| caps4 = 30
| goals4 = 5
| years5 = 1996–2007
| clubs5 = [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]]
| caps5 = 370
| goals5 = 47
| years6 = 2007–2009
| clubs6 = [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe]]
| caps6 = 65
| goals6 = 6

| years7 = 2010–2011
| clubs7 = [[Sport Club Corinthians Paulista|Corinthians]]
| caps7 = 35
| goals7 = 1
| years8 = 2011–2012
| clubs8 = [[FC Anzhi Makhachkala|Anzhi Makhachkala]]
| caps8 = 25
| goals8 = 4
| years9 = 2015–2016
| clubs9 = [[Delhi Dynamos FC|Delhi Dynamos]]
| caps9 = 3
| goals9 = 0
| totalcaps = 593
| totalgoals = 69
| nationalyears1 = 1996
| nationalteam1 = [[Brazil national under-23 football team|Brazil U23]]
| nationalcaps1 = 6
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1992–2006
| nationalteam2 = [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]
| nationalcaps2 = 125
| nationalgoals2 = 10
| manageryears1 = 2012
| managerclubs1 = [[FC Anzhi Makhachkala|Anzhi Makhachkala]] (coach)
| manageryears2 = 2013–2014
| managerclubs2 = [[Sivasspor]]
| manageryears3 = 2015
| managerclubs3 = [[Akhisar Belediyespor|Akhisarspor]]
| manageryears4 = 2015
| managerclubs4 = [[Odisha FC|Delhi Dynamos]]
| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|Football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|BRA}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 Korea/Japan]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 France]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA Confederations Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1997 FIFA Confederations Cup|1997 Saudi Arabia]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1999 FIFA Confederations Cup|1999 Mexico]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Copa América]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1997 Copa América|1997 Bolivia]]|}}
{{Medal|W|[[1999 Copa América|1999 Paraguay]]|}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1995 Copa América|1995 Uruguay]]|}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{Medal|Bronze|[[1996 Summer Olympics|1996 Atlanta]]|[[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|Team]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA U-20 World Cup|FIFA U–20 World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|RU|[[1991 FIFA World Youth Championship|1991 Portugal]]|}}
}} 
'''Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha''' (born 10 April 1973), often recognized as '''Roberto Carlos''' and sometimes '''''RC3''''',{{refn|group=note|name=name|An [[abbreviation]] of his initials and common shirt number.<ref name ="The Beautiful Game 1" /><ref name ="The Beautiful Game 2" />}} is a Brazilian former professional [[association football|footballer]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://newsroom.airasia.com/news/2018/3/23/roberto-carlos-is-airasias-new-global-ambassador|title=Roberto Carlos is AirAsia's new global ambassador|website=AirAsia Newsroom|date=23 March 2018 }}</ref> He has been described as the "most offensive-minded left-back in the history of the game",<ref name="Most Bonito">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/04/sports/playmagazine/04brazil.html?pagewanted=2|title=Most Bonito|date=4 June 2006|work=The New York Times}}</ref> and one of the greatest full-backs in history.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131203014313/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/222/542/7/ "Roberto Carlos: Brazil have a great chance"]. ''[[FIFA]].com''. 28 November 2013.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url =https://www.givemesport.com/best-left-backs-football-history-ranked/|title =15 Best Left-Backs in Football History|website =givemesport.com |date =9 June 2025 |accessdate =31 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=4 March 2004 |title=Pele's list of the greatest |publisher=BBC Sport |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3533891.stm |access-date=15 June 2013}}</ref> In 1997, he was runner-up in the [[FIFA World Player of the Year]] and in 2002, was runner-up for the [[2002 Ballon d'Or|Ballon d'Or]]. He is primarily known for his long career at [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] and constant presence on the Brazilian national team.

He started his career in Brazil as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]] but spent most of his career as a [[left-back]]. At club level, Roberto Carlos joined [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] from [[Inter Milan]] in 1996 to spend 11 highly successful seasons, playing 584 matches in all competitions and scoring 71 goals. At Real, he won four [[La Liga]] titles and the [[UEFA Champions League]] three times. In April 2013, ''[[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]]'' named him in their "Best Foreign Eleven in [[History of Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid's History]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2013/04/11/en/football/real_madrid/1365709938.html|title=The best foreign eleven in Real Madrid's history|date=12 April 2013|publisher=Marca.com}}</ref> He is one of the few players to have made over [[List of men's footballers with the most official appearances|1,100 professional career appearances]] at clubs and international levels.

Roberto Carlos made his debut for the [[Brazil national football team|Brazil national team]] in 1992. He played in three [[FIFA World Cup|World Cups]], helping the team reach [[1998 FIFA World Cup Final|the final]] in [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998]] in France, and win the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 tournament]] in South Korea and Japan. He was named in the [[FIFA World Cup All-Star Team]] in 1998 and 2002. With Brazil, he is especially known for a bending 40-yard free kick against [[France national football team|France]] in the inaugural match of [[Tournoi de France (1997)|Tournoi de France 1997]]. With 125 caps, he has made the [[Brazil national football team#Most capped players|fourth-most appearances for his national team]].<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/braz-recintlp.html "Appearances for Brazil National Team"]. Rsssf.com. Retrieved 12 June 2018</ref> He was chosen for the [[FIFA World Cup Dream Team]] in a 2002 [[FIFA]] poll.

He took up management and was named as the manager of [[Sivasspor]] in the Turkish [[Süper Lig]] in June 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/1467826/roberto-carlos-named-sivasspor-boss |title=Roberto Carlos named Sivasspor boss |publisher=ESPN |date=4 June 2013 |access-date=24 December 2014 }}</ref> He resigned as head coach in December 2014.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/brazils-roberto-carlos-quits-turkeys-sivasspor-145528668--sow.html? |title=Brazil's Roberto Carlos quits Turkey's Sivasspor |publisher=Yahoo! Sports |date=21 December 2014 |access-date=24 December 2014 }}</ref> From January to June 2015, he was manager of [[Akhisar Belediyespor|Akhisarspor]]. Although he announced his retirement from playing at the age of 39 in 2012,<ref name="retire">[https://web.archive.org/web/20140606214131/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/167/446/5/index.html "Roberto Carlos retirement confirmed"]. FIFA. Retrieved 2 June 2014</ref> he briefly came out of retirement in 2015 when he was appointed player/manager of [[Indian Super League]] club [[Delhi Dynamos FC|Delhi Dynamos]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/33466552 |title=Roberto Carlos: Former Brazil left-back named Delhi player-manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 July 2015}}</ref>

==Club career==
===Early years===
{{Quote box| width = 29% |quote = I owe all clubs for which I worked, even to my little [[União São João Esporte Clube|União São João]], because we must never forget our origins. But I owe my coming to Spain to [[Atlético Mineiro]], who gave me the opportunity to work on the team in 1992, a trip to the country. So I made a point to make it clear and I thank this important club for me to have opened the doors here in Europe. |source =—Roberto Carlos paying tribute in 2014 to the two Brazilian clubs whom he started his career with.<ref name="Atletico">{{cite web|url=http://www.mg.superesportes.com.br/app/noticias/colunistas/jaeci-carvalho/2015/06/18/se-coluna_jaeci_carvalho_interna,312789/roberto-carlos-agradece-ao-galo.shtml|title=Roberto Carlos agradece ao Galo |work=Superesportes |date=31 July 2014 |access-date=1 May 2015}}</ref>}}
Roberto Carlos began his professional career playing for [[União São João Esporte Clube|União São João]], a football club based in [[Araras]] in the state of São Paulo. In 1992, despite playing at what was seen as a lesser club and only being 19 years old, he was called up for the [[Brazil national football team|Brazil national team]]. In August 1992, aged 19, he joined [[Atlético Mineiro]] on loan and went on the club's tour of Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.galodigital.com.br/enciclopedia/Roberto_Carlos_da_Silva|title=Roberto Carlos da Silva |work=Galo Digital |date=31 July 2014 |access-date=1 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.otempo.com.br/superfc/atletico/roberto-carlos-se-diz-triste-por-n%C3%A3o-ter-jogado-pelo-atl%C3%A9tico-e-agradece-o-clube-1.723776 |title=Roberto Carlos se diz triste por não ter jogado pelo Atlético e agradece o clube |work=O Tempo |date=31 July 2014 |access-date=1 May 2015 |archive-date=17 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217030834/http://www.otempo.com.br/superfc/atletico/roberto-carlos-se-diz-triste-por-n%C3%A3o-ter-jogado-pelo-atl%C3%A9tico-e-agradece-o-clube-1.723776 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.otempo.com.br/superfc/atletico/roberto-carlos-se-diz-triste-por-n%C3%A3o-ter-jogado-pelo-atl%C3%A9tico-e-agradece-o-clube-1.723776 |title=Apesar de curta passagem, Roberto Carlos mostra gratidão ao Galo em retrospectiva |work=Superesportes |date=31 July 2014 |access-date=1 May 2015 |archive-date=17 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140217030834/http://www.otempo.com.br/superfc/atletico/roberto-carlos-se-diz-triste-por-n%C3%A3o-ter-jogado-pelo-atl%C3%A9tico-e-agradece-o-clube-1.723776 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The tour consisted of the B team, as the club was prioritising the first [[Copa CONMEBOL]] in South America at the same time. The tour served as a test for many players, and those who stood out could be integrated definitively to the main group. Roberto Carlos did not participate in the first two games in Italy but played the full match against [[Unió Esportiva Lleida|Lleida]] in Spain on 27 August in a match for the [[Ciutat de Lleida Trophy]]. He remained in the team for the next two games, held in [[Logroño]], against [[Club Deportivo Logroñés|Logroñés]] and [[Athletic Bilbao]]. Before retiring from football in 2014, Roberto Carlos thanked Atlético Mineiro for the opportunity.<ref name="Atletico"/>

In 1993, Roberto Carlos joined [[Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras|Palmeiras]], where he played for two seasons, winning two consecutive [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Brazilian league titles]]. After almost signing for [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in 1995, Roberto Carlos chose a move to [[Inter Milan]], in the [[Serie A]], playing one season for the ''Nerazzurri''. He scored a 30-yard free-kick on his debut in a 1–0 win over [[Vicenza Calcio|Vicenza]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.inter.it/en/news/40941|title=AWAITING PRIMA SERATA: "MESS MY HAIR UP IF..."|date=28 September 2012|publisher=F.C. Internazionale Milano|archive-date=12 May 2016|access-date=13 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512234430/http://www.inter.it/en/news/40941|url-status=dead}}</ref> but his [[1995–96 Inter Milan season|season]] at Inter was unsuccessful, with the club finishing seventh in [[1995–96 Serie A|Serie A]].

In an interview with ''[[FourFourTwo]]'' in a May 2005 issue, Roberto Carlos said that the then-coach of Inter, [[Roy Hodgson]], wanted him to play as a [[Forward (association football)#Winger|winger]], but Roberto Carlos wanted to play as a [[left back]]. Roberto Carlos spoke to Inter owner [[Massimo Moratti]] "to see if he could sort things out and it soon became clear that the only solution was to leave".<ref name="One-on-One">{{cite web|url=http://fourfourtwo.com/interviews/one-on-one/236/article.aspx |title=Roberto Carlos – One-on-One |work=[[FourFourTwo]] |date=31 July 2009 |access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref>

===Real Madrid===
Roberto Carlos joined [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] in the year 1996 close season. When newly appointed manager [[Fabio Capello]] learned that Roberto Carlos had become transferable he barely could believe it, and he asked chairman [[Lorenzo Sanz]] to travel to Milan immediately. An agreement had been reached 24 hours later.<ref>[https://www.marca.com/futbol/real-madrid/2021/04/28/608927f946163fde738b45f3.html Capello reveals how was Roberto Carlos signed for Real Madrid: "in 24 hours he was signed"]. [[Marca (newspaper)|Marca]], 28 April 2021</ref> Roberto Carlos was given the number 3 shirt and held the position as the team's first choice left-back from the [[1996–97 Real Madrid CF season|1996–97 season]] until the [[2006–07 Real Madrid CF season|2006–07 season]]. During his 11 seasons with Madrid, he appeared in 584 matches in all competitions, scoring 71 goals. In January 2006, he became Real Madrid's most [[Cap (sport)|capped]] foreign-born player in [[La Liga]] with 370 appearances, breaking the previous record of 329 held by [[Alfredo Di Stéfano]].<ref>[https://www.overlyzer.com/en/football/roberto-carlos-an-all-time-real-madrid-great/ Roberto Carlos – An all-time Real Madrid great] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208125038/https://www.overlyzer.com/en/football/roberto-carlos-an-all-time-real-madrid-great/ |date=8 December 2021 }}. Overlyzer, 08 December 2021</ref> During his Real Madrid career, Roberto Carlos was, alongside [[A.C. Milan|Milan]] and [[Italy national football team|Italy]] legend [[Paolo Maldini]], considered the greatest left-back in the world.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2337728/Mourinho-Roberto-Carlos-still-the-best.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2337728/Mourinho-Roberto-Carlos-still-the-best.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Mourinho: Roberto Carlos still the best|date=1 June 2006|publisher=The Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/henrywinter/2427236/On-the-spot-Steven-Gerrard.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/henrywinter/2427236/On-the-spot-Steven-Gerrard.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=On the Spot: Steven Gerrard|date=20 December 2003|work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/community/news/newsid=134318.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130630133555/http://www.uefa.com/community/news/newsid=134318.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 June 2013|title=Jaap Stam: My Team of 2003|date=8 January 2004|publisher=UEFA}}</ref> As a high-profile player and one of the most influential members of the team,<ref name=thighs/> Roberto Carlos was considered one of Madrid's ''[[Galácticos]]'' (which included [[Zinedine Zidane]], [[Luís Figo]], [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]] and [[David Beckham]]) during [[Florentino Pérez]]'s first tenure as [[List of Real Madrid CF presidents|club president]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/henrywinter/2386035/Centre-Stage-Making-the-grade-among-galacticos.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/columnists/henrywinter/2386035/Centre-Stage-Making-the-grade-among-galacticos.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Centre Stage: Making the grade among 'galacticos'|date=3 September 2004|work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

{{Quote box| width = 27% |quote = Roberto Carlos can cover the entire [left] wing all on his own.
 |source =—Real Madrid coach [[Vicente del Bosque]] on Roberto Carlos having the ability to defend and attack the left side of the field by himself.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120718055122/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/sid_lowe/12/28/realmadrid.alltimeXI/index.html#ixzz32IhjONa2 "Real Madrid's team of the decade"]. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 20 May 2014</ref>}}
He won four [[List of Spanish football champions|La Liga titles]] with Madrid, and played in the [[1998 UEFA Champions League Final|1998]], [[2000 UEFA Champions League Final|2000]] and [[2002 UEFA Champions League Final|2002]] [[List of European Cup and UEFA Champions League finals|UEFA Champions League finals]], assisting Zinedine Zidane's winning goal in 2002, considered one of the greatest goals in [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] history.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2009/apr/16/best-champions-league-goals|title=Ten of the best Champions League goals|date=16 April 2009|work=The Guardian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.btvision.bt.com/sport/whos-made-our-champions-league-top-five/|title=Who's made our Champions League top five|publisher=British Telecom|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105220012/http://www.btvision.bt.com/sport/whos-made-our-champions-league-top-five/|archive-date=5 November 2012}}</ref> Roberto Carlos was named as [[UEFA Club Football Awards|Club Defender of the Year]] and included in the [[UEFA Team of the Year]] in 2002 and 2003. In the later part of his Real Madrid career, Roberto Carlos was named as one of the club's "three [[Captain (association football)|captains]]" alongside [[Raúl (footballer)|Raúl]] and [[Guti (Spanish footballer)|Guti]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/2006/1202733133344/noticia/Noticia/Gala_Anual_de_la_Fundacion_2008-04-28.htm|title=Gala Anual de la Fundación|language=es|date=24 April 2006|publisher=Real Madrid CF|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527135156/http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/es/2006/1202733133344/noticia/Noticia/Gala_Anual_de_la_Fundacion_2008-04-28.htm|archive-date=27 May 2013}}</ref> Renowned for getting forward from his left-back position and scoring spectacular goals, in February 1998, he scored arguably his most memorable goal for Real Madrid with a [[Curl (football)|bending]] [[Volley (football)|volley]] struck with the outside of his left foot from near the [[Association football pitch#Pitch boundary|sideline]] in a [[1997–98 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]] match against [[CD Tenerife|Tenerife]] in what was described as an "impossible goal".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.diariosur.es/rc/20110228/deportes/futbol/coulibaly-repite-imposible-roberto-201102280853.html|title=Coulibaly repite el 'gol imposible' de Roberto Carlos|trans-title=Coulibaly repeats the "impossible goal" of Roberto Carlos|
language=es|date=28 February 2011|publisher=Sur.es}}</ref>

On the final day of the [[2002–03 La Liga|2002–03 season]], with Madrid needing to beat Athletic Bilbao to overtake [[Real Sociedad]] and win their 29th La Liga title, Roberto Carlos scored from a free-kick in the second minute of first half [[stoppage time]] to put ''los Blancos'' 2–1 ahead.<ref name=champion>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/23/1056220540779.html|title=Real Madrid's champions the champion team|date=24 June 2003|publisher=The Age}}</ref> The team eventually ran out 3–1 winners to wrap up the title.<ref name=champion/> On 6 December 2003, Roberto Carlos scored the opening goal for Madrid as they beat [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in ''[[El Clásico]]'' at [[Camp Nou]] for the first time in a La Liga match in 20 years.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/dec/08/match.sport6|title=Beckham's arrival is complete as the clamour grows|date=8 December 2003}}</ref>

In March 2007, in the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 against [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]], Roberto Carlos failed to control the backpass when Madrid kicked off, allowing Bayern's [[Hasan Salihamidžić]] to steal the ball and feed to [[Roy Makaay]], who scored the quickest goal in Champions League history at 10.12 seconds.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/champions-league/10783424/Bayern-Munich-v-Real-Madrid-Champions-Leagues-greatest-rivalry.html "Bayern Munich v Real Madrid: Champions League's greatest rivalry"]. The Telegraph, Retrieved 7 May 2014</ref> Roberto Carlos bore the brunt of criticism for that mistake which led to the team's elimination from the Champions League, and, on 9 March 2007, he announced he would leave Real Madrid upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the [[2006–07 Real Madrid CF season|2006–07 season]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Roberto Carlos to leave Real at end of season |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-spain-real-roberto-carlos/roberto-carlos-to-leave-real-at-end-of-season-idUKL0917097120070309 |access-date=25 August 2020 |work=Reuters |date=9 March 2007}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> His final goal for Real Madrid was a stoppage time winner against [[Recreativo de Huelva]] with three games remaining in the [[2006–07 La Liga|2006–07 La Liga season]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://int.soccerway.com/news/2007/May/20/roberto-carlos-keeps-madrid-on-course/|title=Roberto Carlos keeps Madrid on course|date=21 May 2007|work=Soccerway}}</ref> The goal proved to be crucial to Real Madrid winning its 30th league title as they eventually finished level on points with Barcelona, becoming champions via the [[La Liga#Competition format|head-to-head rule]]. Madrid clinched La Liga in Roberto Carlos's final match, a 3–1 win over [[RCD Mallorca|Mallorca]] at the [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1202730196845/noticia/Noticia/Real_Madrid_3-1_Mallorca.htm|title=Real Madrid 3–1 Mallorca|date=18 June 2007|publisher=Real Madrid CF|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206095337/http://www.realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/en/1202730196845/noticia/Noticia/Real_Madrid_3-1_Mallorca.htm|archive-date=6 December 2013}}</ref>

===Fenerbahçe===
[[File:Roberto Carlos in Moscow 3 (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Roberto Carlos with Fenerbahçe in 2007]]
On 19 June 2007, Roberto Carlos signed a two-year contract (with one year optional) with the Turkish [[Süper Lig]] champions [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe]]; he was presented at the club's home ground, the [[Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium]], in front of thousands of fans.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.fenerbahce.org/eng/detay.asp?ContentID=967 |title=Carlos' Signing Ceremony |work=Fenerbahce.org |date=19 June 2007 |access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref><ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/06/06/sports/SOCCER.php "Roberto Carlos joins Fenerbahçe"]. [[International Herald Tribune]]. 6 June 2007.</ref> In the first official match he played with the team, Fenerbahçe won the [[Turkish Super Cup]] against [[Beşiktaş J.K.|Beşiktaş]] by a score of 2–1. During a league match against [[Sivasspor]], he scored his first goal for Fenerbahçe on 25 August 2007 from a diving header, which was only the third headed goal of his career. He was injured during the final period of the same season and missed the title race between Fenerbahçe and rivals [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/news/2008/April/17/fenerbahces-carlos-set-to-miss-rest-of-season |title=Fenerbahçe's Carlos Set to Miss Rest of the Season |work=Soccerway.com |date=17 April 2008 |access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref> His team eventually lost the title to their rivals, while guaranteeing a place for themselves in [[2008–09 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] knockouts for the next season. He announced that he was unhappy about the final result and would do his best to carry the domestic trophy back to the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/08/06/haber,3EA27DA8B7DA4590860F4DF755244C41.html |title=Carlos'la Bir Yıl Daha |work=[[Sabah (newspaper)|Sabah.com]] |language=tr |date=6 August 2008 |access-date=1 May 2012 |archive-date=23 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023123713/http://arsiv.sabah.com.tr/2008/08/06/haber,3EA27DA8B7DA4590860F4DF755244C41.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 7 October 2009, Roberto Carlos announced that he would leave Fenerbahçe when his contract expired in December 2009. He offered to return to Real Madrid and play for free, though he also said return to the Brazilian domestic leagues was a possibility,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spain/2009/10/07/1545961/fenerbahces-roberto-carlos-says-hed-play-for-real-madrid-for |title=Roberto Carlos says he'd play for Madrid for free |work=Goal.com |date=7 October 2009 |access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref> and announced his departure on 25 November. He made his last appearance for Fenerbahçe on 17 December, as a late substitute against [[FC Sheriff Tiraspol|Sheriff Tiraspol]] in the [[2009–10 UEFA Europa League|UEFA Europa League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01e0-0e739223ee9b-8aa5f7a5b2af-1000--fenerbahce-snuff-out-sheriff-hopes/ |title=Fenerbahçe snuff out Sheriff hopes |publisher=UEFA |date=17 December 2009 |access-date=30 August 2014}}</ref>

===Corinthians===
After 15 years away from Brazil, Roberto Carlos returned to his country in 2010 to play for [[Sport Club Corinthians Paulista|Corinthians]], joining his friend and former Real Madrid teammate [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]].
On 4 June 2010, Roberto Carlos scored a goal against [[Sport Club Internacional|Internacional]] and helped Corinthians to move to the top of the [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A]] table. The ''Timão'' won the game 2–0.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=792582&sec=global&cc=5739|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100607034137/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=792582&sec=global&cc=5739|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 June 2010|title=Carlos strikes as Corinthians go back top|date=4 June 2010|work=[[ESPN Soccernet]]}}</ref>
On 16 January 2011, Roberto Carlos scored an impressive goal directly from a corner kick against [[Associação Portuguesa de Desportos|Portuguesa]]. Concerned with his safety after being threatened by fans after the [[Copa Libertadores da América]] defeat to Colombian club [[Deportes Tolima|Tolima]], Roberto Carlos requested his release by the club, which was promptly facilitated by Corinthians.<ref>{{cite news|title=Roberto Carlos está fora do Timão|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/corinthians/noticia/2011/02/roberto-carlos-esta-fora-do-timao.html|publisher=[[Globo.com|Globoesporte]]|language=pt|date=11 February 2011|access-date=14 February 2012}}</ref>

===Anzhi Makhachkala===
[[File:Roberto Carlos 7221.jpg|thumb|upright|Roberto Carlos in August 2011]]
On 12 February 2011, after being heavily linked with a move to [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]], Roberto Carlos signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with [[Russian Premier League]] club [[FC Anzhi Makhachkala|Anzhi Makhachkala]],<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/9400100.stm "Roberto Carlos joins Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala"]. ''BBC Sport''. 16 February 2011. Retrieved 16 February 2011.</ref> worth approximately €10&nbsp;million.<ref>[http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/corinthians/noticia/2011/02/roberto-carlos-acerta-contrato-de-dois-anos-com-time-russo.html "Roberto Carlos hits two-year contract with Russian team"]. ''Globoesporte.com''. 12 February 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2011.</ref> Playing in a [[defensive midfielder|defensive midfield]] position, Roberto Carlos was named captain of Anzhi on 8 March. On 25 April, he scored his first goal for Anzhi in a 2–2 draw with [[FC Dynamo Moscow|Dynamo Moscow]], converting a 58th minute [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Anzhi Makhachkala's Roberto Carlos scores his first goal in Russia|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/553/russia/2011/04/25/2458047/anzhi-makhachkalas-roberto-carlos-scores-his-first-goal-in|publisher=Goal.com|date=25 April 2011|access-date=14 February 2012}}</ref> On 30 April, he scored his second goal, converting a penalty in a 1–0 win over [[FC Rostov|Rostov]], and on 10 June, he then scored his third goal on a 20th minute in a 2–0 win over [[PFC Spartak Nalchik|Spartak Nalchik]].

On 11 September 2011, Roberto Carlos scored his fourth goal in a 2–1 win over [[FC Volga Nizhny Novgorod|Volga Nizhny Novgorod]]. As of his first season for Anzhi, Roberto Carlos made 28 appearances and scored five goals. On 30 September, he became the caretaker coach of Anzhi following the sacking of [[Gadzhi Gadzhiyev]], before [[Andrei Gordeyev]] assumed the role also in a caretaker capacity.<ref name="Coaches and staff, Official site of FC Anji">{{cite web|url=http://www.fc-anji.ru/users/coaches/first/?lng=en |title=Coaches and staff |work=Fc-anji.ru |access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref> Roberto Carlos announced his plans to retire at the end of 2012, but continued to work behind the scenes at Anzhi.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130310002224/http://eurosport.yahoo.com/30012012/58/liga-roberto-carlos-retire-end-year.html "Roberto Carlos to retire at end of year"]. ''Eurosport.yahoo.com''. 30 January 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2012.</ref> In August 2012, Anzhi coach [[Guus Hiddink]] confirmed his retirement at a news conference in Moscow, also stating, "Roberto was a world class football player. Every master's career ends at some point."<ref name="retire"/>

====Cases in Russia====
In March 2011, during a game away at [[FC Zenit Saint Petersburg|Zenit Saint Petersburg]], a banana was held near Carlos by one of the fans as the footballer was taking part in a flag-raising ceremony.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/blog/dirty-tackle/post/Russian-fan-presents-Roberto-Carlos-with-a-racis?urn=sow-wp265 |title=Russian fan presents Roberto Carlos with a racist banana |first=Brooks |last=Peck |date=23 March 2011 |work=[[Yahoo! Sports]] |access-date=23 July 2011}}</ref> In June, in a match away at [[FC Krylia Sovetov Samara|Krylia Sovetov Samara]], Roberto Carlos received a pass from the goalkeeper and was about to pass it when a banana was thrown onto the pitch, landing nearby. Carlos picked it up and threw it by the sidelines, walking off the field before the final whistle and raising two fingers at the stands, indicating this was the second such incident since March.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gziDwP58fE8Z6qoSoC1SyRaP-c-Q |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223131918/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gziDwP58fE8Z6qoSoC1SyRaP-c-Q |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 February 2012 |title=Roberto Carlos banana attack alarms Russia |first=Maria |last=Antonova |date=23 June 2011 |agency=[[Agence France-Presse|AFP]] |access-date=2 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2016-09-29 |title=Russia’s FC Rostov face sanction for banana-throwing in Champions League |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/sep/29/russia-banana-throwing-racism-football-champions-league |access-date=2025-10-21 |work=[[The Guardian]] |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077 |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

===Delhi Dynamos===
He ended his professional playing career with a spell as [[player-manager]] of [[Delhi Dynamos FC|Delhi Dynamos]] of the [[Indian Super League]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Nag |first1=Utathya |title=Roberto Carlos in ISL: The Bullet Man's final stop |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/roberto-carlos-isl-indian-super-league-football |website=[[Olympics.com]] |date=5 April 2023}}</ref>

==International career==
[[File:Roberto Carlos.JPG|thumb|left|upright|Roberto Carlos in 2006 with the [[Brazil national football team|Brazil national team]]]]
Roberto Carlos amassed 125 [[Cap (sport)|appearances]], scoring 11 goals for the [[Brazil national football team|Brazilian national team]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/braz-recintlp.html |title=Brazil – Record International Players |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref> He represented Brazil at three [[FIFA World Cup|FIFA World Cups]], four [[Copa América]] tournaments, the [[1997 FIFA Confederations Cup]] and the [[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1996 Olympic Games]].

===Early senior career===
[[File:Banana-shape shoot-fr.svg|thumb|Roberto Carlos's 'banana shot' from 40 yards out against France in [[1997 Tournoi de France]]<ref name="Ducked">{{cite news |title=Roberto Carlos' brilliant Brazil free-kick against France remembered  |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10899358/roberto-carlos-brilliant-brazil-free-kick-against-france-remembered |access-date=17 December 2020 |website=[[Sky Sports]]|quote=A full 40 yards from France's goal [...]. A ball-boy could be seen ducking as he braced himself for impact, but with an arcing trajectory like a banana, the ball somehow swerved back the other way, clipping the post as it whistled past the motionless Barthez and into the net.}}</ref>]]
On 26 March 1992, Roberto Carlos debuted for the [[Brazil national football team|Brazilian senior team]] in a 3–0 friendly victory against the [[United States men's national soccer team|United States]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|title=Game That Changed My Life|url=https://gb.readly.com/magazines/fourfourtwo/2024-10-17/6708e919e00b91db4bbad59b|magazine=FourFourTwo|date=17 October 2024|access-date=28 June 2025|via=Readly}}</ref> He is especially famous for a bending 40-yard [[Direct free kick|free kick]] against France in the inaugural match of [[Tournoi de France (1997)|Tournoi de France 1997]] on 3 June 1997. The ball [[Curl (association football)|curled]] so much that the [[ball boy]] ten yards to the right ducked instinctively, thinking that the ball would hit him.<ref name="Ducked"/> Instead, much to the surprise of goalkeeper [[Fabien Barthez]] – who just stood in place – it curled back on target. This particular attempt has been considered to be the greatest free kick of all time.<ref>{{cite web|title=Roberto Carlos, The Greatest Free Kick Of All Time|url=http://www.greatestsportingmoments.com/roberto-carlos-the-greatest-kick-of-all-time/|website=Greatest Sporting Moments|access-date=10 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706141326/http://www.greatestsportingmoments.com/roberto-carlos-the-greatest-kick-of-all-time/|archive-date=6 July 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/37475858/physics-impossible-strike |title=Roberto Carlos' Brazil free kick in 1997: The physics behind 'impossible' strike |website=ESPN FC|publisher=ESPN|last1=De Laurentiis |first1=Francisco |last2=Gabriel |first2=Joao |date=2 June 2017 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref> In 2010, a team of French scientists produced a paper explaining the trajectory of the ball.<ref>{{cite web|last=Gill |first=Victoria |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11153466 |title=Roberto Carlos wonder goal 'no fluke', say physicists |website=[[BBC News]]|publisher=BBC|date=2 September 2010 |access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref>

At the [[1998 FIFA World Cup|1998 World Cup]], he played seven matches, including the [[1998 FIFA World Cup Final|final]] loss to [[France national football team|France]]. After a qualifying game for the [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002 World Cup]] which was held in South Korea/Japan, [[Paraguay national football team|Paraguay]] goalkeeper [[José Luis Chilavert]] spat on Roberto Carlos, an action which caused [[FIFA]] to give Chilavert a three-match suspension and forced him to watch the first game of the World Cup from the stands. Roberto Carlos played six matches in the finals, scoring a goal from a free-kick against [[China national football team|China]], and was a starter in the [[2002 FIFA World Cup Final|final]] against [[Germany national football team|Germany]], with Brazil winning 2–0. After the tournament, he was also included in the [[FIFA World Cup awards#All-Star Team|World Cup All-Star Team]].<ref>{{Cite web|first=Phil|last=McNulty|title=Campbell makes the World Cup All star team|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport3/worldcup2002/hi/other_news/newsid_2071000/2071344.stm|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=3 June 2014|access-date=28 June 2025}}</ref> Roberto Carlos later referred to the 2002 World Cup winning team as a "band of brothers together", and mentioned that the squad had a [[WhatsApp]] group and still talked regularly.<ref>{{Cite news|title='Blood brothers': Roberto Carlos on the day he saved Ronaldo's life|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2022/nov/13/blood-brothers-roberto-carlos-ronaldo-brazil-world-cup|newspaper=The Guardian|date=13 November 2022|access-date=28 June 2025}}</ref>

===2006 FIFA World Cup, retirement, and desire to return===
Roberto Carlos' next international tournament was the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]]. In July 2006, after Brazil's 1–0 defeat to France in the quarter-finals, he announced his retirement from the national team, saying: "I've stopped with the national team. It was my last game."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/brazil/5143004.stm|title=Carlos quits international scene|website=BBC Sport|publisher=BBC|date=3 July 2006}}</ref> He said he no longer wanted to play for Brazil because of the criticism he faced from fans and Brazilian media for his failure to mark goalscorer [[Thierry Henry]] on France's winning goal.<ref name="play">{{cite news|url=http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/story/Roberto-Carlos-still-wants-to-play-at-WC|url-status=dead|title=Roberto Carlos still wants to play at World Cup|date=10 January 2010|website=[[Fox Soccer]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100113152606/http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/story/Roberto-Carlos-still-wants-to-play-at-WC|archive-date=13 January 2010}}</ref>

Upon signing with [[Sport Club Corinthians Paulista|Corinthians]] in January 2010, Roberto Carlos told [[Rede Globo|TV Globo]] that he hoped to play at the [[2010 FIFA World Cup|2010 World Cup]] and believed his return to Brazilian football may help him return to the national team, as manager [[Dunga]] had yet to settle on a left-back.<ref name="play"/> However, he was left off the 30-man provisional squad that was submitted to FIFA on 11 May 2010, along with [[Ronaldinho]] and Ronaldo.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espn.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/51078/in-case-you-missed-it-the-day-in-sports-92|title=In Case You Missed It: The Day In Sports|date=11 May 2010|publisher=[[ESPN]]}}</ref> Despite his deep desire to do so, Roberto Carlos was ultimately not named in Dunga's final 23-man squad for the Brazil at the World Cup. Instead, newcomer [[Michel Bastos]] earned a spot for the left-back position.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=264067&cc=5739&ver=global|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100618074454/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/preview?id=264067&cc=5739&ver=global|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 June 2010|title=Selecao seek a style change|date=15 June 2010|publisher=ESPN}}</ref>

==Style of play==
[[File:Roberto Carlos 2011.jpg|thumb|upright|Roberto Carlos in 2011]]
Tactically, Roberto Carlos started out playing football in Brazil as a forward – usually as a [[Forward (association football)#Centre-forward|centre-forward]] or [[Forward (association football)#Winger|outside forward]] – but spent most of his career as [[Defender (association football)|defender]], usually as a left-sided full-back or [[Defender (association football)#Wing-back|wing-back]]. In 2006, he was described as the "most offensive-minded left-back in the history of the game", by John Carlin of ''[[The New York Times]]'';<ref name="Most Bonito"/><ref name="Carlos on free-kicks">{{cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/insideuefa/news/newsid=751901.html |title=Roberto Carlos on free-kicks |publisher=[[UEFA]] |date=14 June 2010 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref name="l'uomo proiettile">{{cite news |url=https://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/ilcuoio/2019/04/10-55626338/roberto_carlos_l_uomo_proiettile/ |title=Roberto Carlos: l'uomo proiettile |work=Il Corriere dello Sport |language=it |date=20 April 2019 |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref> indeed, he was known for his forward surging runs throughout his career.<ref name="unknown">{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2011/aug/25/samuel-etoo-anzhi-makhachkala |title=Samuel Eto'o takes step into the unknown with Anzhi Makhachkala |work=The Guardian |last1=Wilson |first1=Jonathan |date=25 August 2011 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref> Roberto Carlos is also widely considered by several pundits as one of the best left backs in the history of the sport.<ref name="Top Ten Left-Backs">{{cite news|url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/131346-greatest-ever-football-top-ten-left-backs-of-all-time|title=Greatest Ever: Football: Top Ten Left-Backs Of All Time|date=11 June 2018|agency=Bleacher Report}}</ref><ref name="Brazil soccer legend Roberto Carlos">{{cite news|url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/parramatta/sport/brazil-soccer-legend-roberto-carlos-to-have-life-celebrated-at-riverside/news-story/042eefb63f6aabb7f92ac6834f813b6b|title=Brazil soccer legend Roberto Carlos to have life celebrated at Riverside|date=11 June 2018|work=Daily Telegraph}}</ref><ref name="l'uomo proiettile"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1082324-20-best-fullbacks-in-world-football#slide0 |title=The 20 Best Fullbacks in World Football |publisher=Bleacher Report |last1=Webster |first1=Peter |date=1 March 2012 |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://sport.sky.it/calcio/premier-league/2017/10/09/inter-roberto-carlos-hodgson-mi-ha-distrutto |title=Roberto Carlos: "All'Inter Hodgson mi ha distrutto, non capiva di calcio" |publisher=Sky Sport |language=it |date=9 October 2017 |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref> During his time at Inter, he was also used out of position as a [[Midfielder#Winger|winger]] in a [[Formation (association football)#4–4–2|4–4–2 formation]] on occasion by manager Roy Hodgson, which had a negative impact on his performances, and often saw him caught out defensively;<ref name="One-on-One"/><ref name="treccani">{{cite web |url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/roberto-carlos-da-silva_%28Enciclopedia-dello-Sport%29/ |title=ROBERTO CARLOS da Silva |publisher=Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002) |language=it |last1=Monti |first1=Fabio |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref> in his later career with Anzhi Makhachkala, he was instead deployed as a [[Midfielder#Defensive midfielder|defensive midfielder]] in a three-man midfield, in order to compensate for his loss of pace and physical decline due to his advancing age.<ref name="unknown"/>

Roberto Carlos was nicknamed ''El Hombre Bala'' ("The Bullet Man") throughout his career, due to his powerful [[Curl (association football)|bending]] shots and [[Direct free kick|free kicks]], which have been measured at over {{convert|105|mph|km/h}},<ref name="thighs">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/jun/16/worldcupfootball2002.sport2|title=Try me for thighs|work=The Guardian|date=16 June 2002}}</ref> and for which he became renowned. A set-piece specialist, he is regarded as one of the foremost free kick takers of his generation, and was known for being capable of striking the ball powerfully – in particular from long range – and of producing curling shots with the outside of his left boot in dead ball situations.<ref name="Carlos on free-kicks"/><ref name="Roberto Carlos">[https://archive.today/20141218213212/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=esp/news/newsid=765938.html "Beckham is best says Roberto Carlos"]. UEFA. Retrieved 18 December 2014</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2019/aug/14/the-joy-of-six-football-and-the-outside-of-the-boot |title=The Joy of Six: football and the outside of the boot |work=The Guardian |last1=Smyth |first1=Rob |date=14 August 2019 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2017/11/29/brazil-legend-roberto-carlos-reveals-lucky-element-aided-his-iconic-free-kick-against-france |title=Roberto Carlos Says His Iconic Free Kick Was Wind-Aided |publisher=Sports Illustrated |date=29 November 2017 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/fifaeworldcup/news/kings-the-free-kick-1551015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806164048/https://www.fifa.com/fifaeworldcup/news/kings-the-free-kick-1551015 |url-status=dead |archive-date=6 August 2020 |title=Kings of the free-kick |publisher=FIFA.com |date=2 December 2011 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nationalpost.com/sports/soccer/science-explains-carlos-banana-kick |title=Science explains Carlos' banana kick |work=The National Post |last1=Petrequin |first1=Samuel |date=3 September 2010 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="tuttocalciatori"/> A talented and consistent player, with good [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] skills at speed, as well as precise passing and crossing ability, he also possessed significant strength and excellent physical qualities, which along with his pace, work-rate, and energy, allowed him to cover the left flank effectively and assist at both ends of the pitch.<ref name="tuttocalciatori"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/performance/training/roberto-carlos-play-brazilian-full-back |title=Roberto Carlos: Play like a Brazilian full-back |publisher=FourFourTwo |last1=Murray |first1=Andrew |date=28 July 2014 |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref> While he earned a reputation as a hard-tackler, he was also known for being a clean player throughout his career.<ref name="tuttocalciatori">{{cite web |url=https://www.tuttocalciatori.net/notizie/2014/09/roberto-carlos-il-tritolo-nel-sinistro/ |title=Roberto Carlos, il tritolo nel sinistro! |publisher=www.tuttocalciatori.net |language=it |last1=Iaccarino |first1=Lucio |date=15 September 2014 |access-date=10 April 2020 |archive-date=14 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014034736/https://www.tuttocalciatori.net/notizie/2014/09/roberto-carlos-il-tritolo-nel-sinistro/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Positions guide">{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/rules_and_equipment/4197076.stm |title=Positions guide: Wing-back |date=September 2005 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/30/cafu-picks-his-all-time-brazil-xi |title=Cafu picks his all-time Brazil XI |work=The Guardian |last1=Cafu |date=30 May 2018 |access-date=10 April 2020 }}</ref> In addition to his stamina, running speed, technical skills, and [[Cross (football)|crossing]] ability,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/newscentre/news/newsid=71747/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129073958/http://www.fifa.com/newscentre/news/newsid=71747/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=29 November 2014|title=MasterCard All-Star Team of the 1998 World Cup|date=10 July 1998|website=www.fifa.com|publisher=FIFA|access-date=23 April 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.solocalcio.com/gallery/stelle98/lestelle12.htm|title=Le stelle di Francia 98: da Luis Oliveira a Romario|access-date=7 November 2014|archive-date=7 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141107221212/http://www.solocalcio.com/gallery/stelle98/lestelle12.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="RM-Profile-RC">{{cite web |url=https://www.realmadrid.com/en/about-real-madrid/history/football-legends/roberto-carlos-da-silva |title=ROBERTO CARLOS |publisher=Real Madrid |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref> he was also known for his long [[throw in]]s, as well as his strong {{convert|24|in|cm|adj=on}} thighs, despite his small stature, which allowed him to accelerate quickly and strike the ball powerfully.<ref name="thighs" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-soccer-worldcup-throwin/long-throw-ins-a-perfect-secret-set-piece-weapon-says-specialist-coach-idUKKBN1JO1VH |title=Long throw-ins a perfect secret set-piece weapon, says specialist coach |publisher=Reuters |last1=O'Connor |first1=Philip |date=28 June 2018 |access-date=11 April 2020 }}</ref>

==Media==
[[File:Roberto-carlos-wikipedia-2021.png|thumb|right|upright|Roberto Carlos speaking with [[Real Madrid TV]] in 2021]]
Roberto Carlos has appeared in commercials for the sportswear company [[Nike, Inc.|Nike]].<ref name="Jackson"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Nike and Maven Networks Introduce JogaTV |url=http://nikego.com/media/pr/2006/04/17_jogaTV.html |work=Nikego |publisher=Nike |date=17 April 2006 |access-date=21 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130130024001/http://nikego.com/media/pr/2006/04/17_jogaTV.html |archive-date=30 January 2013}}</ref> In 1998, he starred in a Nike commercial set in an airport in the buildup to the 1998 World Cup alongside a number of stars from the Brazil national team, including [[Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)|Ronaldo]] and [[Romário]].<ref name="Jackson">{{cite book|last1=Jackson|first1=Steven J.|title=Sport, Culture and Advertising: Identities, Commodities and the Politics of Representation|url=https://archive.org/details/sportscultureadv00jack|url-access=limited|date=10 November 2004|publisher=Routledge|page=[https://archive.org/details/sportscultureadv00jack/page/n198 186]|isbn=9780415339926}}</ref> In a Nike advertising campaign in the run-up to the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan, Roberto Carlos starred in a "[[Secret Tournament]]" commercial (branded "Scopion KO") directed by [[Terry Gilliam]], appearing alongside other star footballers, including Ronaldo, [[Thierry Henry]], [[Francesco Totti]], Ronaldinho, [[Luís Figo]] and the Japanese [[Hidetoshi Nakata]], with former player [[Eric Cantona]] the tournament's "referee".<ref>{{cite news |title=A lighter shoe, cooler kits, a faster ball, a Secret Tournament – every touch counts |url=http://www.nikebiz.com/story/stry_scorpion.shtml |work=NikeBiz |publisher=Nike |access-date=21 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020602055510/http://www.nikebiz.com/story/stry_scorpion.shtml |archive-date=2 June 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Claire |last=Cozens |title=Cantona hosts World Cup with a difference |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2002/apr/03/advertising.worldcupfootball2002?INTCMP=ILCNETTXT3487 |work=The Guardian |date=3 April 2002 |access-date=21 July 2012 }}</ref>

Roberto Carlos has also starred in [[Pepsi]] commercials, including a 2002 World Cup Pepsi advertisement where he lined up alongside [[David Beckham]], Raúl and [[Gianluigi Buffon]] in taking on a team of [[Sumo]] players.<ref>[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-united/3025745/Millions-riding-on-injured-England-captain-mean-he-is-still-a-crock-of-gold.html "Millions riding on injured England captain mean he is still a crock of gold"]. The Telegraph. Retrieved 6 February 2015</ref>

Roberto Carlos features in EA Sports' [[FIFA (video game series)|''FIFA'' video game series]], and was selected to appear on the cover of ''[[FIFA Football 2003]]'' alongside [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] winger [[Ryan Giggs]] and Juventus midfielder [[Edgar Davids]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/gamingzone/editorial/20021025fifarelease.html|title=FIFA 2003 release date announced|publisher=ESPN|date=25 October 2002|access-date=18 February 2015}}</ref> He was named in the Ultimate Team Legends in ''[[FIFA 15]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.easports.com/fifa/news/2014/fifa-15-player-ratings-fut-legends|title=FIFA 15 Player Ratings – FIFA Ultimate Team Legends|publisher=EA Sports.com|date=10 September 2015|access-date=17 March 2015}}</ref> In 2015, the arcade game company [[Konami]] announced that Roberto Carlos would feature in their football video game ''[[Pro Evolution Soccer 2016]]'' as one of the new myClub Legends.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.ign.com/articles/2015/12/09/legends-coming-to-myclub-in-pes-2016|title=Legends Coming to myClub in PES 2016|publisher=IGN|author1=Matt Porter|date=9 December 2015|access-date=10 December 2015}}</ref>

In 2016, Roberto Carlos launched a software called [[Ginga Scout]] that connects players with coaches across the globe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wp.clicrbs.com.br/duplaexplosiva/2014/11/16/tataraneto-do-patrono-do-gremio-e-dono-de-clube-de-de-futebol-nos-estados-unidos-o-miami-dade-fc/?topo=13,1,1,,,13|title=Legends Coming to myClub in PES 2016|publisher=RBS|author1=Leandro Behls|date=16 November 2014|access-date=10 December 2015|archive-date=15 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215050443/http://wp.clicrbs.com.br/duplaexplosiva/2014/11/16/tataraneto-do-patrono-do-gremio-e-dono-de-clube-de-de-futebol-nos-estados-unidos-o-miami-dade-fc/?topo=13,1,1,,,13|url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2018, Carlos was announced as ambassador of [[Morocco 2026 FIFA World Cup bid|Morocco]]'s candidature of the [[2026 FIFA World Cup]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2018/04/244457/roberto-carlos-moroccos-2026-world-cup-bid/|title=Brazilian Legend Roberto Carlos to Represent Morocco's 2026 World Cup Bid}}</ref>

In June 2022, Roberto Carlos co-hosted (alongside Ronaldinho) an exhibition match in Miami including both current and retired players called "The Beautiful Game by R10 and RC3". Roberto Carlos' team won the match 12–10.<ref name ="The Beautiful Game 1">{{Cite web |last=Swan |first=Rob |date=2022-06-19 |title=Team Ronaldinho vs Team Roberto Carlos was an absolute goal-fest |url=https://www.givemesport.com/88023487-team-ronaldinho-vs-team-roberto-carlos-was-an-absolute-goal-fest/ |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=GiveMeSport |language=en}}</ref><ref name ="The Beautiful Game 2">{{Cite web |title=Team Ronaldinho Vs Team Roberto Carlos Was A Legendary Spectacle |url=https://www.sportbible.com/football/team-ronaldinho-vs-team-roberto-carlos-was-a-legendary-spectacle-20220619 |access-date=2023-05-14 |website=SPORTbible |date=19 June 2022 |language=en}}</ref> A rematch was held in Orlando on 23 June 2023, which was suspended after about an hour of game time due to rain and pitch invasions.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Citro |first=Michael |date=2023-06-23 |title=The Beautiful Game Provided an Evening of Fun Soccer Until Pitch Invaders and Rain Halted the Proceedings |url=https://themaneland.com/2023/06/23/the-beautiful-game-provided-an-evening-of-fun-soccer-until-pitch-invaders-and-rain-halted-the-proceedings/ |access-date=2023-06-24 |website=themaneland.com |language=en-US}}</ref> The score of the second match ended 4–3 for Ronaldinho's team.

== Charity ==
On 16 June 2019, Roberto Carlos took part in [[Soccer Aid]] at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]], London.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.radiotimes.com/news/sport/2019-06-16/soccer-aid-2019-teams-players-managers/|title=Who's in the Soccer Aid 2019 line-up? Full England and World XI teams as celebs and professionals face off|website=Radio Times|access-date=17 June 2019}}</ref> He played for the World XI team which was captained by [[Usain Bolt]] and they beat the England XI on penalties.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/bolt-scores-in-soccer-aid-triumph/1hroh4yui1i4q1e5qfiffpbg3v|title=Usain Bolt scores in Soccer Aid triumph as his World XI beat an England XI on penalties |website=www.goal.com|access-date=17 June 2019}}</ref>

In 2019, Roberto Carlos became the global ambassador of the international children's social programme [[Football for Friendship]]. Carlos attended programme's Forum and awarded the winners.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-06-01|title=Роберто Карлос наградил победителей Чемпионата мира по "Футболу для дружбы"|url=https://www.sport-express.ru/football/futbol-dlya-druzhby/news/roberto-karlos-nagradil-pobediteley-chempionata-mira-po-futbolu-dlya-druzhby-1551133/|access-date=2020-11-14|website=sport-express.ru|language=ru}}</ref>

In January 2022, Bull In The Barne United, an English [[Sunday league football|Sunday League]] pub team, won a [[raffle]] meaning that Roberto Carlos would play for them in a one-off [[exhibition game|friendly]]. The [[Shrewsbury]]-based side play in Division One of the Shrewsbury & District Sunday League and paid just £5 to enter the [[eBay]] raffle.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-01-31|title=Roberto Carlos: Brazil legend set to make appearance for Shropshire pub team|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/60197741|access-date=2022-01-31|website=BBC.co.uk}}</ref> On 4 March 2022, Roberto Carlos made a goalscoring debut for Bull In The Barne United during a 4–3 defeat to Harlescott Rangers in a friendly match at [[Hanwood]].<ref name="Debut for Bull in the Barne United – Shropshire Live">{{cite web |url=https://www.shropshirelive.com/sport/2022/03/04/roberto-carlos-scores-in-sunday-league-team-debut-for-bull-in-the-barne-united/ |title=Roberto Carlos scores in Sunday League team debut for Bull in the Barne United |website=ShropshireLive.com |access-date=7 March 2022 |archive-date=6 March 2022 |date=4 March 2022 |df=dmy-all |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306132532/https://www.shropshirelive.com/sport/2022/03/04/roberto-carlos-scores-in-sunday-league-team-debut-for-bull-in-the-barne-united/ |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 23 February 2024, Roberto Carlos took part in the Match4Hope. He played for Team [[Chunkz]], alongside [[Eden Hazard]], [[David Villa]], and various media personalities, against Team AboFlah.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Teams - Match For Hope |work=Match For Hope |url=https://match4hope.com/teams/ }}</ref> Roberto Carlos played for the starting 8 minutes only, before being [[Substitution (sport)|substituted]].

==Managerial career==

===Anzhi Makhachkala===
[[File:Roberto Carlos 2012.jpg|thumb|upright|Roberto Carlos coaching Anzhi Makhachkala in 2012]]
Roberto Carlos had a brief spell as interim manager at Anzhi Makhachkala in early 2012. He later criticised the club upon resigning alongside manager Guus Hiddink.<ref name="goal.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2931/go-global/2013/09/11/4254702/anzhi-will-collapse-in-two-years-roberto-carlos |title='Anzhi will collapse in two years' – Roberto Carlos |work=Goal.com|access-date=10 January 2014}}</ref>

===Sivasspor===
Roberto Carlos was appointed manager of Turkish Süper Lig team [[Sivasspor]] in June 2013.<ref name="fifa.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/209/773/3/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205103009/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/209/773/3/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 December 2013 |title=Roberto Carlos takes charge at Sivasspor |work=Fifa.com|access-date=10 January 2014}}</ref> On 21 December 2014, he left the club following a defeat to [[İstanbul Başakşehir F.K.|İstanbul BB]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Após derrota em casa, Roberto Carlos deixa comando do Sivasspor|url=http://www.lancenet.com.br/futebol-internacional/derrota-Roberto-Carlos-comando-Sivasspor_0_1270672943.html|website=Lancenet|publisher=Lance!|access-date=21 December 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221211743/http://www.lancenet.com.br/futebol-internacional/derrota-Roberto-Carlos-comando-Sivasspor_0_1270672943.html|archive-date=21 December 2014}}</ref>

===Akhisarspor===
On 2 January 2015, Carlos was appointed as manager of [[Akhisar Belediyespor|Akhisarspor]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Roberto Carlos acerta contrato com o Akhisar e segue como técnico na Turquia|url=http://esporte.ig.com.br/futebol/2015-01-02/roberto-carlos-acerta-contrato-com-o-akhisar-e-segue-como-tecnico-na-turquia.html|website=iG|access-date=2 January 2015|date=2 January 2015|archive-date=22 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122190536/http://esporte.ig.com.br/futebol/2015-01-02/roberto-carlos-acerta-contrato-com-o-akhisar-e-segue-como-tecnico-na-turquia.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Delhi Dynamos===
After finishing his season in Turkey, Roberto Carlos signed for [[Al-Arabi SC (Qatar)|Al-Arabi]] of the [[Qatari Stars League]], but due to talks breaking down, he did not join the Qatari club.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Novevanto|first1=Eric|title=BRAZILIAN LEGEND ROBERTO CARLOS TAKES AL ARABI MANAGERIAL ROLE|url=http://footballchannel.asia/2015/06/03/post4148/|access-date=5 July 2015|work=Football Channel|date=3 June 2015}}</ref> Then, on 5 July 2015, it was announced that he had signed to be the head coach of the [[Odisha FC|Delhi Dynamos]] of the [[Indian Super League]] for the [[2015 Indian Super League|2015 season]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Chandra|first1=Shikharr|title=OFFICIAL: Delhi Odisha announce the signing of Roberto Carlos as head coach|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2015/07/05/13295252/official-delhi-dynamos-announce-the-signing-of-roberto-carlos-as-|access-date=5 July 2015|work=Goal.com|date=5 July 2015|archive-date=7 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707171521/http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/136/india/2015/07/05/13295252/official-delhi-dynamos-announce-the-signing-of-roberto-carlos-as-|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At the end of the season, it was announced that he would not return to Delhi Dynamos in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Vasavda|first1=Mihir|title=ISL 2015: Roberto Carlos will not return, Zico likely to follow suit |url=http://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/isl-roberto-carlos-will-not-return-zico-likely-to-follow-suit/|access-date=22 April 2016|work=[[The Indian Express]]|date=11 December 2015}}</ref>

==Doping accusations==
In 2017, a report of investigative journalists of German broadcasting station [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] revealed [[doping in sport|doping]] practices in Brazil, including physician Júlio César Alves who claims to have treated Carlos for many years. Carlos denies the allegations.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170613190013/http://www.sportschau.de/doping/video-doping-top-secret---brazils-dirty-game-100.html Doping Top Secret - Brazil´s Dirty Game], 10 June 2017, [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]]</ref><ref>[https://peru.com/futbol/internacional/roberto-carlos-fue-acusado-dopaje-y-asi-se-defendio-noticia-518157 Roberto Carlos fue acusado de dopaje y así se defendió], peru.com, 12 June 2017 {{in lang|es}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Roberto Carlos was born in Garça, São Paulo, on 10 April 1973 to Oscar and Vera Lucia da Silva.<ref>[https://assignmentpoint.com/biography-of-roberto-carlos/ Biography of Roberto Carlos]</ref>

On 24 June 2005, Roberto Carlos was robbed by two gunmen while doing a live radio interview. He was not hurt but they took his watch and the interviewer's cellular phone.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4621437.stm "Brazil footballer robbed on radio"]. BBC. Retrieved 9 May 2014</ref>

On 2 August 2005, he was naturalised as a Spanish citizen. This proved important for Real Madrid, as it meant that he now counted as a European Union player, opening up one of the club's allowed three slots for non-EU players and enabling Real Madrid to sign fellow Brazilian [[Robinho]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Roberto Carlos cede su plaza de extracomunitario a Robinho |trans-title=Roberto Carlos leaves his non-EU place for Robinho |url=https://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2005/08/02/futbol/1122976599.html |access-date=1 February 2022 |work=El Mundo |date=2 August 2005 |language=Spanish}}</ref>

For his 38th birthday, it was reported that [[FC Anzhi Makhachkala|Anzhi Makhachkala]] owner [[Suleyman Kerimov]] bought him a [[Bugatti Veyron]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Roberto Carlos kijgt 1001 pk voor zijn verjaardag|url=http://www.autogespot.com/nl/item/10854/roberto-carlos-kijgt-1001-pk-voor-zijn-verjaardag.html |language=nl|date=18 April 2011|access-date=14 February 2012|archive-date=28 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128222204/http://www.autogespot.com/nl/item/10854/roberto-carlos-kijgt-1001-pk-voor-zijn-verjaardag.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Roberto Carlos has 11 children with 7 women.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Méndez |first1=M. |title=Roberto Carlos "wants to put his two kids on the street" |url=https://en.as.com/en/2018/03/21/football/1521636766_210484.html |access-date=21 November 2020 |work=AS |date=21 March 2018}}</ref> In October 2017, he became a grandfather when his daughter Giovanna gave birth to a son.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Atkinson|first1=Guy|title=Brazil legend Roberto Carlos becomes grandfather at 44 |url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/roberto-carlos-becomes-grandfather-at-44/17v29coq25eos14d1wiqy2hy3d|website=Goal.com|access-date=15 October 2017|date=13 October 2017}}</ref>

== Career statistics ==

=== Club ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{citation needed|date=November 2024}}<ref>{{NFT player|1007|name=Roberto Carlos |accessdate=22 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://futpedia.globo.com/campeonato/copa-do-brasil |title=Roberto Carlos Copa do Brasil stats |work=Globo.com|access-date=22 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lfp.es/Estadisticas/Plantillas.aspx |title=Roberto Carlos Spanish League stats |publisher=[[Liga de Fútbol Profesional|LFP]] |access-date=22 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425045707/http://www.lfp.es/Estadisticas/Plantillas.aspx |archive-date=25 April 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fc-anji.ru/users/12/?lng=en |title=Roberto Carlos da Silva |publisher=Anzhi Makhachkala |access-date=22 July 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318083643/http://www.fc-anji.ru/users/12/?lng=en |archive-date=18 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/roberto-carlos-da-silva/135/|title=Roberto Carlos|work=Soccerway|access-date=22 July 2012|archive-date=27 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827005307/https://int.soccerway.com/players/roberto-carlos-da-silva/135/|url-status=dead}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=April 2025}}
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup
!colspan="2"|Continental
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[União São João]]
|[[Campeonato Brasileiro Série B|1991]]
|[[Campeonato Brasileiro Série B|Série B]]
|colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||24{{efn|[[1991 Campeonato Paulista]]}}||1||24||1
|-
|[[1992 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B|1992]]
|Série B
|21||3||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||21{{efn|[[1992 Campeonato Paulista]]}}||1||42||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!21!!3!!colspan="2"|–!!colspan="2"|–!!45!!2!!66!!5
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras|Palmeiras]]
|[[1993 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1993]]
|[[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|Série A]]
|20||1||5||0||colspan="2"|–||40{{efn|[[Torneio Rio – São Paulo|1993 Torneio Rio – São Paulo]]}}{{efn|[[1993 Campeonato Paulista]]}}||5{{efn|[[1993 Campeonato Paulista]]}}||65||6
|-
|[[1994 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1994]]
|Série A
|24||2||3||0||6||1||27{{efn|[[1994 Campeonato Paulista]]}}||0||60||3
|-
|[[1995 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1995]]
|Série A
|0||0||4||1||10||3||23{{efn|[[1995 Campeonato Paulista]]}}||3||37||7
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!44!!3!!12!!1!!16!!4!!90!!8!!162!!16
|-
|[[Inter Milan]]
|[[1995–96 Inter Milan season|1995–96]]
|[[Serie A]]
|30||5||2||1||2||1||colspan="2"|–||34||7
|-
|rowspan="12"|[[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]]
|[[1996–97 Real Madrid CF season|1996–97]]
|[[La Liga]]
|37||5||5||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||42||5
|-
|[[1997–98 Real Madrid CF season|1997–98]]
|La Liga
|35||4||1||1||9||2||2{{efn|[[1997 Supercopa de España|Supercopa de España]]}}||0||47||7
|-
|[[1998–99 Real Madrid CF season|1998–99]]
|La Liga
|35||5||4||0||8||0||2{{efn|[[1998 UEFA Super Cup|UEFA Super Cup]], [[1998 Intercontinental Cup|Intercontinental Cup]]}}||0||49||5
|-
|[[1999–2000 Real Madrid CF season|1999–2000]]
|La Liga
|35||4||3||0||17||4||3{{efn|[[FIFA Club World Cup]]}}||0||58||8
|-
|[[2000–01 Real Madrid CF season|2000–01]]
|La Liga
|36||5||0||0||14||4||2{{efn|One appearance in [[2000 UEFA Super Cup|UEFA Super Cup]], one appearance, one goal in [[2000 Intercontinental Cup|Intercontinental Cup]]}}||1||52||10
|-
|[[2001–02 Real Madrid CF season|2001–02]]
|La Liga
|31||3||6||1||13||2||2{{efn|[[2001 Supercopa de España|Supercopa de España]]}}||0||52||5
|-
|[[2002–03 Real Madrid CF season|2002–03]]
|La Liga
|37||5||1||0||15||1||2{{efn|One appearance, one goal in [[2002 UEFA Super Cup|UEFA Super Cup]], one appearance in [[2002 Intercontinental Cup|Intercontinental Cup]]}}||1||55||7
|-
|[[2003–04 Real Madrid CF season|2003–04]]
|La Liga
|32||5||7||1||8||2||2{{efn|[[2003 Supercopa de España|Supercopa de España]]}}||0||49||9
|-
|[[2004–05 Real Madrid CF season|2004–05]]
|La Liga
|34||3||2||0||10{{efn|Two appearances in [[2004–05 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds]]}}||1||colspan="2"|–||46||4
|-
|[[2005–06 Real Madrid CF season|2005–06]]
|La Liga
|35||5||3||1||7||0||colspan="2"|–||45||6
|-
|[[2006–07 Real Madrid CF season|2006–07]]
|La Liga
|23||3||1||0||8||0||colspan="2"|–||32||3
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!370!!47!!33!!4!!109!!16!!15!!2!!527!!69
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe]]
|[[2007–08 Fenerbahçe S.K. season|2007–08]]
|[[Süper Lig]]
|22||2||3||0||9||0||1{{efn|[[2007 Turkish Super Cup|Turkish Super Cup]]}}||0||35||2
|-
|[[2008–09 Fenerbahçe S.K. season|2008–09]]
|Süper Lig
|32||4||8||2||10||1||colspan="2"|–||50||7
|-
|[[2009–10 Fenerbahçe S.K. season|2009–10]]
|Süper Lig
|11||0||0||0||8||1||colspan="2"|–||19||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!65||6||11||2||27||2||1||0||104||10
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Sport Club Corinthians Paulista|Corinthians]]
|[[2010 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|2010]]
|Série A
|35||1||colspan="2"|–||8||0||14{{efn|[[2010 Campeonato Paulista]]}}||3||57||4
|-
|[[2011 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|2011]]
|Série A
|0||0||colspan="2"|–||1||0||3{{efn|[[2011 Campeonato Paulista]]}}||1||4||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!35!!1!!0!!0!!9!!0!!17!!4!!61!!5
|-
|[[FC Anzhi Makhachkala|Anzhi]]
|[[2011–12 FC Anzhi Makhachkala season|2011–12]]
|[[Russian Premier League]]
|25||4||3||1||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||28||5
|-
|[[Odisha FC|Delhi Dynamos]]
|[[2015 Delhi Dynamos FC season|2015]]
|[[Indian Super League]]
|3||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||3||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!593!!69!!61!!9!!163!!23!!168!!16!!985!!117
|}{{notelist}}

=== International ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/rcarlos-intl.html |title=Roberto Carlos – Century of International Appearances |work=RSSSF |access-date=1 May 2012}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="15"|[[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]
|1992||7||0
|-
|1993||5||0
|-
|1994||7||0
|-
|1995||13||1
|-
|1996||4||0
|-
|1997||18||1
|-
|1998||10||0
|-
|1999||13||2
|-
|2000||9||0
|-
|2001||7||1
|-
|2002||11||1
|-
|2003||5||1
|-
|2004||12||0
|-
|2005||9||3
|-
|2006||6||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!125!!10
|}

:''Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Carlos goal.''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of international goals scored by Roberto Carlos
|-
!scope="col"|No.
!scope="col"|Date
!scope="col"|Venue
!scope="col"|Opponent
!scope="col"|Score
!scope="col"|Result
!scope="col"|Competition
|-
{{Ig match
| n =1
| d1= 6 June 1995
| st=Goodison Park| ci=Liverpool| co=England
| o=Japan
| sc=3–0
| fr=3–0
| comp=[[Umbro Cup]]}}
{{Ig match
| n =2
| d1= 3 June 1997
| st=Stade de Gerland| ci=Lyon| co=France
| o=France
| sc=1–0
| fr=1–1
| comp=[[1997 Tournoi de France]]}}
{{Ig match
| n =3
| d1= 26 June 1999
| st=Arena da Baixada| ci=Curitiba| co=Brazil
| o=Latvia
| sc=2–0
| fr=3–0
| comp=[[Exhibition game|International friendly]]}}
{{Ig match
| n =4
| d1= 9 October 1999
| st=Amsterdam Arena| ci=Amsterdam| co=Netherlands
| o=Netherlands
| sc=1–0
| fr=2–2
| comp= International friendly}}
{{Ig match
| n =5
| d1= 9 August 2001
| st=Arena da Baixada| ci=Curitiba| co=Brazil
| o=Panama
| sc=5–0
| fr=5–0
| comp= International friendly}}
{{Ig match
| n =6
| d1= 8 June 2002
| st=Jeju World Cup Stadium| ci=Seogwipo| co=South Korea
| o=China
| sc=1–0
| fr=4–0
| comp=[[2002 FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Ig match
| n =7
| d1= 12 October 2003
| st=Walkers Stadium| ci=Leicester| co=England
| o=Jamaica
| sc=1–0
| fr=1–0
| comp= International friendly}}
{{Ig match
| n =8
| d1= 9 February 2005
| st=Hong Kong Stadium| ci=Hong Kong| co=Hong Kong
| o=Hong Kong
| sc=2–0
| fr=7–1
| comp=[[2005 Carlsberg Cup]]}}
{{Ig match
| n =9
| d1= 8 June 2005
| st=El Monumental| ci=Buenos Aires| co=Argentina
| o=Argentina
| sc=1–3
| fr=1–3
| comp=[[2006 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)|2006 World Cup qualifying]]}}
{{Ig match
| n =10
| d1= 12 October 2005
| st=Mangueirão| ci=Belém| co=Brazil
| o=Venezuela
| sc=2–0
| fr=3–0
| comp= 2006 World Cup qualifying}}
|}

===Managerial statistics===
{{updated|20 December 2015}}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan=8|Record
|-
!{{Tooltip|G|Games managed}}
!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}
!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}
!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}
!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}
!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}
!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}
!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}
|-
| [[Sivasspor]]
| 3 June 2013
| 21 December 2014
{{WDL|59|23|9|27|for=90|against=94|diff=yes}}
|-
| [[Akhisar Belediyespor]]
| 11 January 2015
| 1 June 2015
{{WDL|20|5|7|8|for=25|against=28|diff=yes}}
|-
| [[Delhi Dynamos FC|Delhi Dynamos]]
| 3 July 2015
| 20 December 2015
{{WDL|16|7|4|5|for=19|against=23|diff=yes}}
|-
! colspan=3|Career totals
{{WDLtot|95|35|20|40|for=134|against=145|diff=yes}}
|}

==Honours==
'''Palmeiras'''
* [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A]]: [[1993 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1993]], [[1994 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|1994]]
* [[Campeonato Paulista]]: [[1993 Campeonato Paulista|1993]], [[1994 Campeonato Paulista|1994]]
* [[Torneio Rio – São Paulo|Torneio Rio–São Paulo]]: 1993

'''Real Madrid'''
* [[La Liga]]: [[1996–97 La Liga|1996–97]], [[2000–01 La Liga|2000–01]], [[2002–03 La Liga|2002–03]], [[2006–07 La Liga|2006–07]]
* [[Supercopa de España]]: [[1997 Supercopa de Espana|1997]], [[2001 Supercopa de Espana|2001]], [[2003 Supercopa de Espana|2003]]
* [[UEFA Champions League]]: [[1997–98 UEFA Champions League|1997–98]], [[1999–2000 UEFA Champions League|1999–2000]], [[2001–02 UEFA Champions League|2001–02]]
* [[UEFA Super Cup]]: [[2002 UEFA Super Cup|2002]]
* [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]]: [[1998 Intercontinental Cup|1998]], [[2002 Intercontinental Cup|2002]]

'''Fenerbahçe'''
* [[Turkish Super Cup]]: [[2007 Turkish Super Cup|2007]]

'''Brazil U23'''
* [[CONMEBOL Men Pre-Olympic Tournament]]: [[1996 CONMEBOL Men Pre-Olympic Tournament|1996]]
* [[Football at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Bronze Medal]]: [[Football at the 1996 Summer Olympics – Men's tournament|1996]]

'''Brazil'''
* [[FIFA World Cup]]: [[2002 FIFA World Cup|2002]]; runner-up: [[1998 FIFA World Cup Final|1998]]
* [[Copa América]]: [[1997 Copa América|1997]], [[1999 Copa América|1999]]; runner-up: [[1995 Copa América|1995]]
* [[FIFA Confederations Cup]]: [[1997 FIFA Confederations Cup|1997]]
* [[Umbro Cup]]: [[Umbro Cup|1995]]
* [[Lunar New Year Cup]]: [[2005 Lunar New Year Cup|2005]]

'''Individual'''
* [[Bola de Prata (Brazil)|Bola de Prata]]: 1993, 1994, 2010
* [[FIFA World Player of the Year]]: 1997 (silver)
* [[ESM Team of the Year]] (7): 1996–97, 1997–98, 1999–00, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04
* [[Onze d'Or|Onze Mondial]]: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005<ref>{{Cite web|title="Onze Mondial" Awards|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|access-date=2021-12-17|website=[[RSSSF]]|archive-date=4 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190704020132/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/onze-awards.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[FIFA World Cup All-Star Team]]: 1998, 2002
* [[Trofeo EFE]]: 1997–98
* [[UEFA Club Defender of the Year]]: 2002, 2003
* [[UEFA Team of the Year]]: 2002, 2003
* [[Ballon d'Or]]: 2002 (runner-up)
* [[Golden Foot award|Golden Foot]]: 2008
* [[List of 2009 all-decade Sports Illustrated awards and honors#Soccer All-Decade Team|Sports Illustrated Team of the Decade]]: 2009<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Wahl|first=Grant|title=2000s: The Decade in Sports; All-Decade Team: Soccer|magazine=Sports Illustrated|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/magazine/specials/2000s/12/15/soccer.decade.team/index.html|date=21 December 2009|access-date=30 August 2018|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113202936/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/magazine/specials/2000s/12/15/soccer.decade.team/index.html|archive-date=13 November 2012}}</ref>
* [[ESPN World Team of the Decade]]: 2009<ref>{{cite news|last=Brewin |first=John|url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/717519/espn-soccernet-international-team-of-the-decade|title=World Team of the Decade|date=25 December 2009|work=ESPNsoccernet|publisher=ESPN|access-date=29 January 2018}}</ref>
* [[Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year]]: [[2010 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A|2010]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Prêmio Craque do Brasileirão |url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/temporeal/cobertura/livre/06-12-2010/premio-craque-do-brasileirao/ |access-date=19 May 2009 |date=6 December 2010 |work=Globo Esporte |language=pt}}</ref>
* [[FIFA 100]]
* [[Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame]]
* [[Ballon d'Or Dream Team]] (silver): 2020<ref>{{cite web |title=The other two Ballon d'Or Dream Team XIs: Zidane, Cruyff, Iniesta, Di Stefano... but no Casillas |url=https://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2020/12/14/5fd7bc8522601d53598b45b2.html |website=[[MARCA]]|date=15 December 2020 |access-date=15 December 2020}}</ref>
* 11Leyendas Jornal AS: 2021<ref>{{cite web |url=https://as.com/futbol/2021/02/25/reportajes/1614273403_238476.html |title=11 Leyenda el mejor once de la historia |publisher=JornalAS|date=25 February 2021 }}</ref>
* [[International Federation of Football History & Statistics#All-time Men's Dream Team (2021)|IFFHS All-time Men's B Dream Team]]: 2021<ref name="IFFHS Dream Team">{{cite web |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1110 |title=IFFHS ALL TIME WORLD MEN'S DREAM TEAM |work=IFFHS |date=22 May 2021 }}</ref>
* [[IFFHS World Team#All-time Men's Dream Team (2021)|IFFHS South America Men's Team of All Time]]: 2021<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1116|title=Iffhs All Time South America Men's Dream Team|work=IFFHS |date=22 May 2021}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances]]
* [[List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps]]
* [[List of men's footballers with the most official appearances]]
* [[List of athletes who came out of retirement#Football|List of athletes who came out of retirement]]

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist|group=note}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.robertocarlos.com.br/ Fansite website] {{in lang|pt}}
* {{FIFA player}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120318083643/http://www.fc-anji.ru/users/12/?lng=en Profile] on Anzhi Makhachkala's official website

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| list1 = 
{{1998 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{2002 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{1997 FIFA Confederations Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{2002 UEFA Team of the Year}}
{{2003 UEFA Team of the Year}}
{{1993 Bola de Prata}}
{{1994 Bola de Prata}}
{{2010 Bola de Prata}}
{{2010 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year}}
{{Trofeo EFE}}
{{UEFA Club Football Awards}}
{{Golden Foot winners}}
{{FIFA World Cup Dream Team}}
{{Sports Illustrated Soccer 2000s All-Decade Team}}
{{Ballon d'Or Dream Team}}
{{IFFHS All-time Men's World Dream Team}}
{{IFFHS All-time Men's South American Dream Team}}
{{FIFA 100}}
{{Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Brazil squads
| bg = #FEDF00
| fg = #009B3A
| bordercolor = #002776
| list1 = 
{{Brazil squad 1993 Copa América}}
{{Brazil squad 1995 Copa América}}
{{Brazil men's football squad 1996 Summer Olympics}}
{{Brazil squad 1997 Copa América}}
{{Brazil squad 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup}}
{{Brazil squad 1998 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Brazil squad 1999 Copa América}}
{{Brazil squad 2002 FIFA World Cup}}
{{Brazil squad 2006 FIFA World Cup}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 = 
{{Sivasspor managers}}
{{Akhisar Belediyespor managers}}
{{Delhi Dynamos FC managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

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